Gaza destruction of property must stop

Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine (APJP) condemns in the strongest terms the destruction by the Israeli defence force of Palestinian property and infrastructure that serve the basic needs of 1.4 million innocent civilians in Gaza (Report, July 1). These include vital road bridges, the main power station, factories and a football field - so far. Restoring the electrical plant alone, which serves two-thirds of the electrical needs of Gaza, will take up to six months and will cost over $15m.

Palestinians are suffering without the basic services of electricity, water, or access to food, schools and hospitals that are meant to be guaranteed in times of war. APJP calls upon the international community to force the Israeli government to respect and adhere to articles 3 and 33 of the Geneva convention, which prohibit collective punishment, reprisals against protected persons, and the destruction of private properties belonging to individuals, groups, organisations or official bodies. These acts by the IDF qualify for appropriate sanctions against the serious violations by military attacks against a primarily civilian population.

We call for Israel to halt its disproportionate collective punishment and for the cessation of the siege that is being perpetrated against the innocent civilians of the Gaza Strip.

Finally, Israel must be held financially responsible for all damage to infrastructural services caused by its latest invasion of Gaza.